What was the address of the ‘Brookline Theatre on Washington Street’? This one is news to me.
The Hancock Village Theatre is listed here as Village Cinema. It was in the Boston neighborhood of West Roxbury, very near the border with Brookline. It closed in the late 1980s or early 1990s and was subsequently demolished.
So why don’t the distributors put together their own ad-hoc circuit of independent, small-chain, and usually-second-run theatres in order to show this film? Not everything has to go into Regal or AMC or Cinemark. A lot of second-run houses would jump at the chance to show a first run for a change.
I doubt that any national chain can make such a claim, given the diverse locations it has. The film might do just fine at, say, Regal Fenway 13 in Boston, even while failing to find an audience in rural Nebraska.
Regal’s loss is Landmark’s gain. Also, the distributor should consider assembling an ad-hoc network of independent (and normally second-run) cinemas to exhibit this film.
I can’t remember any other National Amusements theatres in Boston ever, besides the Circle and later the Allston. Maybe someone who lived here before 1975 can correct me.
On the Loew’s State page there are many comments about a May 1968 concert by Judy Garland, which took place immediately before that theatre was demolished. This was a few months before you met her, since Funny Girl was released in September of that year. The Loew’s State (by then called the Back Bay Theatre) was just two blocks from the Cheri.
It’s interesting that you described her as looking ‘elderly’, as she would have been only 46 then. She died less than a year after you met her.
If she was holding her phone out like that, she was using it to photograph the performance — which is a serious no-no at any Broadway show. She should have been thrown out immediately.
One reference to this in the Columbus Dispatch.com archives, from September 24, 1986, refers to this as the ‘Ivory Theater building’. I don’t know why.
The Robert Weiler real estate company has a page about the building, including a photo. Here is an enlargement of the photo. The page notes that it was recently sold for $765,000. Given the condition of this neighborhood, I’m amazed by the sale price.
During at least some time in the late 60s or early 70s, I remember either this or the nearby Eastern Theatre (now demolished) being used as a nightclub or live stage. I vaguely recall it using the name ‘International Star Palace’. I hope someone else from Columbus can supply more information.
This one, at 1336 East Main Street? (Larger photo here).
This was once the Main Theatre. It closed a long time ago as a cinema, though it may have had a second life as a nightclub or live stage. I know that it was no longer a movie theatre when I moved to Columbus in 1968. The neighborhood has been quite depressed for many years.
Yes, I should add it to CinemaTreasures, though I don’t know much more about it. There was another closed theatre a few blocks away on Main, called the Eastside. I’m pretty sure it’s gone now.
I believe the Pixie is listed here as Fairmount Theatre. I don’t know its current status.
What was the address of the ‘Brookline Theatre on Washington Street’? This one is news to me.
The Hancock Village Theatre is listed here as Village Cinema. It was in the Boston neighborhood of West Roxbury, very near the border with Brookline. It closed in the late 1980s or early 1990s and was subsequently demolished.
IMDB.com finds a 1941 film called “That Night in Rio” with those three stars.
It’s showing here at a Landmark theatre; I haven’t noticed any unfavorable consequences.
“See the film the RegalPlex refuses to show” is always good publicity and will bring in fans.
So why don’t the distributors put together their own ad-hoc circuit of independent, small-chain, and usually-second-run theatres in order to show this film? Not everything has to go into Regal or AMC or Cinemark. A lot of second-run houses would jump at the chance to show a first run for a change.
Which might be worth comparing to the current seating chart.
It’s got to be this one. I’ve never heard of any other theatre in Boston called ‘Colonial’, and this building does have a 9th floor.
Who have they sold it to?
I doubt that any national chain can make such a claim, given the diverse locations it has. The film might do just fine at, say, Regal Fenway 13 in Boston, even while failing to find an audience in rural Nebraska.
Regal’s loss is Landmark’s gain. Also, the distributor should consider assembling an ad-hoc network of independent (and normally second-run) cinemas to exhibit this film.
Although in recent years, some independent, art, and foreign films have shown exclusively at Brookline’s Coolidge Corner Theatre or the West Newton Cinema.
I can’t remember any other National Amusements theatres in Boston ever, besides the Circle and later the Allston. Maybe someone who lived here before 1975 can correct me.
We have a listing for the Plaza Theatre, which later became the second-run Cinema Brookline.
Can you confirm whether the Village Cinema in West Roxbury was also once a Reade theatre?
On the Loew’s State page there are many comments about a May 1968 concert by Judy Garland, which took place immediately before that theatre was demolished. This was a few months before you met her, since Funny Girl was released in September of that year. The Loew’s State (by then called the Back Bay Theatre) was just two blocks from the Cheri.
It’s interesting that you described her as looking ‘elderly’, as she would have been only 46 then. She died less than a year after you met her.
The Lorraine is a single screen. That means he has lots of movies to choose from. Surely there is one (maybe ‘The Departed’ ?) that would suit him?
What city or town is this in?
If she was holding her phone out like that, she was using it to photograph the performance — which is a serious no-no at any Broadway show. She should have been thrown out immediately.
Doesn’t text messaging cause the phone’s screen to light up? Not a good thing in what is supposed to be a dark theatre.
Here’s one example of a film festival held in a single-screen theatre about the same size as yours:
Belmont World Film, at the Studio Cinema in Belmont, Mass.
You might also consider adding a family matinee on weekends.
One reference to this in the Columbus Dispatch.com archives, from September 24, 1986, refers to this as the ‘Ivory Theater building’. I don’t know why.
The Robert Weiler real estate company has a page about the building, including a photo. Here is an enlargement of the photo. The page notes that it was recently sold for $765,000. Given the condition of this neighborhood, I’m amazed by the sale price.
During at least some time in the late 60s or early 70s, I remember either this or the nearby Eastern Theatre (now demolished) being used as a nightclub or live stage. I vaguely recall it using the name ‘International Star Palace’. I hope someone else from Columbus can supply more information.
I’ve added a page for the Main Theatre to CinemaTreasures. Feel free to add any further comments there.
This one, at 1336 East Main Street? (Larger photo here).
This was once the Main Theatre. It closed a long time ago as a cinema, though it may have had a second life as a nightclub or live stage. I know that it was no longer a movie theatre when I moved to Columbus in 1968. The neighborhood has been quite depressed for many years.
Yes, I should add it to CinemaTreasures, though I don’t know much more about it. There was another closed theatre a few blocks away on Main, called the Eastside. I’m pretty sure it’s gone now.
Especially since AMC is continuing to operate many theatres (such as Boston Common) under the Loews brand.